Accumulator for vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

An accumulator is provided for use with a vehicle air conditioning system. The accumulator comprises a housing, an inlet tube, an outlet tube, and an outlet tube shield. The housing includes first and second end portions and a cylindrical body portion which are joined together to define an interior chamber. An inlet opening is provided through which refrigerant in an inlet tube enters the interior chamber. The inlet tube directs the incoming flow of refrigerant against the first end portion of the housing. The outlet tube shield is attached to the inlet tube, and prevents the direct passage of refrigerant between the inlet tube and free end of the outlet tube.

We claim: 
     
       1. An accumulator for use in an air conditioning system, the accumulator comprising: a housing having a first end portion, a body portion, and a second end portion which together define an interior chamber, the housing also having an inlet opening through which refrigerant may enter the inlet chamber and an outlet opening through which refrigerant may exit the interior chamber;   an inlet tube extending from the inlet opening into the interior chamber and adapted to direct the incoming flow of refrigerant against the first end portion of the housing;   an outlet tube extending from the outlet opening into the interior chamber and terminating in a free end; and   an outlet tube shield mounted within the interior chamber between the first end portion of the housing and the free end of the outlet tube to prevent the direct passage of refrigerant between the inlet tube and the free end of the outlet tube.   
     
     
       2. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the outlet tube shield is attached to the inlet tube. 
     
     
       3. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the outlet tube shield is generally dome-shaped. 
     
     
       4. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the inlet tube is adapted to direct the incoming flow of refrigerant substantially against the center of the first end portion of the housing. 
     
     
       5. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the first end portion of the housing is generally dome-shaped. 
     
     
       6. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the inlet opening is disposed in the body portion of the housing. 
     
     
       7. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the outlet opening is disposed in the second end portion of the housing. 
     
     
       8. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the outlet tube is disposed in the body portion of the housing. 
     
     
       9. The accumulator of claim 1 further comprising a desiccant container disposed in the interior chamber. 
     
     
       10. The accumulator of claim 9 wherein the desiccant container is disposed substantially within the second end portion of the housing. 
     
     
       11. An accumulator for use in a vehicle air conditioning system, the accumulator comprising: a housing having a first end portion, a body portion connected to the first end portion, and a second end portion connected to the body portion to define an interior chamber, the housing also having an inlet opening disposed in the body portion through which refrigerant may enter the inlet chamber and an outlet opening disposed in the second end portion through which refrigerant may exit the interior chamber;   an inlet tube extending from the inlet opening into the interior chamber and adapted to direct the incoming flow of refrigerant substantially against the center of the first end portion of the housing;   an outlet tube extending from the outlet opening into the interior chamber and terminating in a free end; and   an outlet tube shield attached to the inlet tube and extending between the first end portion of the housing and the free end of the outlet tube to prevent the direct passage of refrigerant between the inlet tube and the free end of the outlet tube.   
     
     
       12. An accumulator for use in an air conditioning system, the accumulator comprising: a housing having a first end portion, a body portion, and a second end portion which together define an interior chamber, the housing also having an inlet opening through which refrigerant may enter the inlet chamber and an outlet opening through which refrigerant may exit the interior chamber;   an inlet tube extending from the inlet opening into the interior chamber and adapted to direct the incoming flow of refrigerant against the first end portion of the housing;   an outlet tube extending from the outlet opening into the interior chamber and terminating in a free end; and   an outlet tube shield attached to the inlet tube between the first end portion of the housing and the free end of the outlet tube to prevent the direct passage of refrigerant between the inlet tube and the free end of the outlet tube.